Warnings: (Probably) character death and swearing.
Pairing: Swan Queen.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Once Upon a Time and these characters.
Chapters: Five and an epilogue. [1/6]
Words: 1.912
A/N: English is not my first language.

''What is this?'' Someone said when the lights of the room turned on, I checked out the room and I saw that we were like ten people, and I don't know whether I should be glad about the fact that I knew all of them.

A screen showed up above the only door that was in the room, a masked person was screened. ''I'm glad you all woke up,'' said a distorted voice, ''it was about time.'' He chuckled.

''Who are you?'' Asked David, who was holding Mary Margaret on the floor. ''What do you want?''

I felt someone grabbing my hand and when I turned my head I saw Ruby forcing a smile, I squeezed her hand back gently, to prove her that I was fine. Then we both watched again the screen. The guy, in case he was a man, had stopped smirking and most of the people in the room had already come to their senses. I could see Aurora on the other side of the room. She was looking for Philip and Mulan pretty confused.

''Have you ever watched the movie SAW?'' I frowned. ''Well then, I want to play a game.'' He sneered again and I leant against the wall, the room was a perfect square, all white, without windows and there were two screens above a door, two big screens. ''I… kind of kidnapped someone. And… well, I'm really bored and I prepared a tryout. Three phases where one of you have to… succeed.''

''Why would we do what you tell us to?'' Asked David, I heard people agreeing with him, but I didn't say anything.

The guy shrugged and the other screen turned on, revealing Regina inside of a… box or something like that. That kind of rectangular boxes that magicians use in their magic tricks. I heard some girls gasping and I squeezed Ruby's hand tighter, then I felt her glance on me.

''I'm giving you half an hour to decide who is willing to rescue the mayor. Oh, yes, I almost forgot to say it, maybe the tryouts are… dangerous, you know, like you may die trying them out.'' He said. The screen where he was being shown suddenly blacked out, but Regina's was still working. I saw her hitting the crystal walls and yelling out things that I couldn't hear.

Fifteen minutes later I was still leaning on the wall, listening what David, Graham and Sidney were saying, the first two ones were saying that the third one should go, it wasn't a secret that he was completely in love with the mayor, so they suggested him to go. Mary Margaret and Kathryn were on the other side of the room with Aurora and Belle. The other people were all around the room searching for a way out.

''Chill out, Ems. If Sidney doesn't go, David will.'' Muttered Ruby, I turned back and stared into her eyes.

''Mary Margaret won't let that happen, and Sidney's not going.'' I said, clenching my jaw. ''No one is going for her.''

''Don't you say, so you're going?'' She said wryly. I looked away, frowning. ''You absolutely loathe each other, you can't go and rescue her, you heard what the masked guy said, the tryouts may kill you, are you risking your life for her?''

''We don't hate each other. We have a… complicated relationship.''

Well, let's be honest, Regina and I (kind of) hate each other, since when I arrived Storybrooke we had problems between us, not real problems, but… well, the first reason is that I almost ran over her when I got here for the first time, and the second is that when I went to Granny's I spilled out my cocoa onto her blouse. So… she hates me since the day we first met, or it seems to be.

''Although Henry says you are a saviour and things like that, it doesn't mean that you really are.''

Henry, the mayor's son, she adopted him twelve years ago, I met him the day after I arrived Storybrooke, when I went to the mayor's mansion to apologize, I found him on the yard reading a book, he looked at me and it was like he saw a miracle. I'll never forget the way his eyes shined when he saw me. I'm still wondering the reason why. And about the I'm a saviour thing… Well, the kid has a lot of imagination… I'm sure he just made up everything on his mind, saying things such as his mother, Regina, was The Evil Queen (Regina evil, who could ever think about that?) and that I was the hope, the saviour. He also said that the Evil Queen needed to be saved from the darkness. How could the kid imagine all that?

''Are you listening to me?''

''Of course,'' I said, arching an eyebrow, ''but… can't you see that no one is going to save her?''

''Look, Emma, I really like the mayor, okay? We all do, but…''

''But…? Are you saying that she doesn't deserve someone who can risk her life for her?'' I stared at Ruby, she glanced away straightaway. ''And… It wouldn't be the first time that I save her, Rubes.'' I added.

Ruby shook her head. She knew that she wasn't able to change my mind, I took a look at the clock in order to know how much time remaining we had. Twenty five minutes had already passed, so we had only five minutes to decide who was going to do the tryouts and ''rescue'' the mayor from that tank, box, whatever it was. My mind tricked me and I imagined water starting to fill up the box, with Regina inside. For the second time in my entire life I could see fear in her eyes.

The first time I saved Regina was when I went to her office in order to discuss about Graham's resignation. I wanted to know why she didn't let me relieve him, I knew she was going to give the job to Sidney... Well, we were going out of the building when suddenly the door burst into flames. I move aside the ladder which fell upon us and got up. Regina claimed she was harm and asked me to bring her out of there. How? The door was on fire, everything was catching fire, I could go nowhere, unless I extinguished the fire before. When I stepped back Regina grabbed me by my arm and blurted out''You're going to leave me here, aren't you?'' She said it like everyone she's ever known had left her, like everybody had abandoned her. She had kind of fear in her eyes, it impeded me to answer. I got loose abruptly.

I jumped over the fire and caught the closest extinguisher. I went inside again, Regina look down upon me, she couldn't believe I came back for her. Let's face it, did she really believe I was going to leave her hanging and let her die?

When we finally went outdoors, there were people taking photos which appeared in newspapers the day after. But that wasn't all, in that moment I told Regina that whenever she was in danger and I could do something, I would, because it was the most honourable thing people used to do. And now the situation is the same, if Sidney wasn't going to rescue Regina, I was. I fulfill everything I say.

Anytime she is in danger I'll rescue her.

The screen switched on again. ''Two minutes left ladies and gentlemen, had you already chosen your hero?''

''Sidney, you must go.'' Said David. ''You know I'd go but Mary Margaret…''

Maybe she wasn't the Evil Queen and maybe I wasn't the White Knight who had to rescue her, but she was the mayor and I was the sheriff, I had to protect people in my job. I'm not a saviour, But I'm going to save her. I've never had responsibilities but this was the moment to take a responsibility and do my job at the end.

''Tick tock…'' I looked at Sidney, ''one minute.''

I might heard a conversation between Regina and Kathryn about the mayor, she needed someone... manly in her life. I'm not trying to impress her or make her believe I'm the love of her life. Wait, no, I didn't think of that, I mean, she has to see that I'm not a bad person and stop hating me that much. ''Ten seconds.'' I can't either deal with the idea of Henry being motherless. Oh c'mon, the poor kid has no father. Yes, what we needed is that Regina died. Who could be such a cruel person to left a little kind without parents? I know how it feels and I don't want Henry to feel the same. ''Five seconds.'' If this was a fairytale where the Queen (Evil or not) needed someone and I was a White Knight, I would rescue her. Because evil or good, everyone deserve a chance. If I rescued her, I'd like to receive a chance. ''Two seconds.'' A chance to show her how I am. ''One second.''

''I will,'' I saw everyone turning around and staring at me, ''I'll rescue her.'' I looked at Ruby, who had grabbed my hand again. ''I'm sorry, Red...'' I whispered, ''but I've already decided. Because If I don't go, no one will.'' I let out when I glanced at Sidney. ''You're a coward...'' I smiled, ''If I get out of here alive, God save you.''

''Don't do this…'' I heard Mary Margaret in the distance. ''Don't...''

''If I don't go, no one will.''

The door closed behind me and I fell panic until the lights went on and I saw myself standing alone in a huge room. There were a swimming pool in the middle and two screens above, in which were being shown Regina and the masked guy.

''And the saviour turned up... You're being screened right now on the screen you saw me. It looks like a game show… Oh, wait.'' He smirked when I clenched my jaw. ''Do you like swimming? You have an Olympic pool in front of you, fifty meters long. There are some fishes inside. Can you see that table next to the door? Use the knife. You understand perfectly the rest.'' I took my jacket off. ''Oh, I forgot it, look at Regina's screen.'' I nodded to let him know he could proceed. ''The more it takes you, the more the box fills with water.''

I freaked out when I saw the water filling that kind of tank, it was slowly but... who knows how are these tryouts? This maniac could do anything to have fun.

''Don't you worry, my lady. There are only three tryouts. Some of them are more difficult, or perhaps you'll need to give parts of your body such as blood. If you get to the third tryout, of course.'' He sneered while I approached the table in order to take the knife. ''Oh, don't you either worry about dying, if you die, she'll get out alive. It's the thought that counts.'' I wasn't going to die in his stupid games. ''Good luck, you know, time runs. Oh, one more thing, if you run out of time Regina will drown, don't worry, you'll be alive.'' I was wishing to wrap my hands around his neck. ''Your life for hers or hers for yours. Good luck Miss Swan.''